Latest news with #localcouncils
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Push to reopen old mines in NSW in global race for critical minerals
Residents, local councils and environmental groups are calling for government intervention as exploration for the critical mineral antimony ramps up on the New South Wales north coast, citing concerns over the potential for contamination of the regional water supply. A swathe of exploration licences have been approved across the region in recent months, with one mining company, Trigg Minerals, establishing a 30-acre base at Wild Cattle Creek on the Dorrigo Plateau in preparation for drilling work. Antimony is a silvery, lustrous grey metalloid used in flame retardants, solar panels, alloys, batteries and military equipment. It's listed as a critical mineral by the US and the European Union. Australia has 7.7% of all global stores but makes up just 2% of all global production, according to Geoscience Australia. But locals on the Dorrigo Plateau are concerned about the risk of runoff from antimony exploration entering local waterways, particularly given the area's high rainfall and steep topography. Antimony levels above the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) were detected on two separate occasions at Shannon Creek Dam, a 30,000 megalitre water source for the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions, in March 2025. It followed torrential rain due to ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which saw 1,000mm fall in seven days on an area which includes an old antimony mine site. With the exception of a period of exploratory drilling 15 years ago, the mine has not been active since the 1970s. The mayor of Clarence Valley council, Ray Smith, called on the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to provide a briefing to council on the risk of antimony projects in the vicinity of the water catchment. Trigg Minerals' managing director, Andre Booyzen, said the results were unrelated to his company's project. 'We haven't even started exploring; we are still working on getting access,' he said. Concerns have also been raised about the storage and transport of antimony samples, after a car and trailer crash on 22 April spilled antimony samples at Bielsdown Bridge in Dorrigo. The EPA confirmed that no debris from the crash entered waterways. Sign up to receive Guardian Australia's fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter Booyzen confirmed the incident but claimed there was 'no danger of anything getting polluted' as the antimony levels in the samples were 0.0001%. The Wild Cattle Creek area was mined on and off for antimony from 1890 until 1975, when falling prices forced the closure of the local industry. Trigg's Wild Cattle Creek project is 'probably the biggest undeveloped antimony resource in Australia, if not the world', Booyzen said. In a presentation to investors, delivered on YouTube, he said the deposit contained 1.5 million tonnes of mineral resource with an average grade of just below 2%. With prices skyrocketing from US$10,000 a tonne in 2023 to US$60,000 in May 2025, mining companies have their sights on the Dorrigo Plateau once more. Shelley Griffin lives next door to the land purchased by Trigg and has a disused mine site on her property. Anchor Resources, which sold the exploration licence for Wild Cattle Creek to Trigg in 2024, gained access to her land for exploratory drilling in 2009, despite her objections, and was later fined by the state government in 2012 for sub-standard remediation work. Samples from the drilling remain discarded on her property. She has been receiving letters and calls from Trigg since January but also plans to oppose its bid to access her land. 'When [Anchor] eventually left I thought this was the end, there is no more,' she said. 'Every year they haven't been on I have celebrated.' Also within the boundaries of Trigg's exploration licence is the Yammacoona Rural Co-operative, a 550-acre commune founded in 1980. Sign up to The Rural Network Subscribe to Calla Wahlquist's fortnightly update on Australian rural and regional affairs after newsletter promotion Founding member Simon Fraser said antimony mining was an 'existential threat' to the community. 'Aerial surveys have shown that there are significant deposits underneath Yammacoona,' he said. Gumbaynggirr elder Uncle Cecil Briggs, 86, said he was terrified of the prospect of mining in an area of special significance for his people. 'Mining is a destroyer of our country,' he said. 'It pollutes the water and it contaminates the air.' The ecologist Mark Graham, a former Coffs Harbour city councillor, said the steep terrain and extreme rainfall of the Dorrigo Plateau made the area particularly vulnerable to run-off from mining activities. 'There is no physical way to contain all runoff in such steep terrain and in extreme rainfall events so pollution of the drinking water catchment with antimony and other toxic elements such as arsenic is inevitable,' he said. Water test results provided to the local council by Anchor Resources in 2011 from creeks surrounding a historic mine site and contemporary exploration works at Wild Cattle Creek showed arsenic levels above ADWG levels at two sites, with four other sites showing high levels but not above Australian guidelines. Antimony was detected above ADWG levels at three sites. Booyzen said contamination risks can be effectively managed. 'There is always a danger of runoff from a mine, but you try to minimise the risk as much as you can through proper design, engineering and build quality,' he said. 'Even in huge rainfall events, the design of tailings dams, processing facilities etc means there is no release from the mine site at all.' Grassroots action group the Clarence Catchment Alliance has called for a permanent ban on all mineral mining activities in the catchment. 'The significant environmental, cultural and economic risks, including threats to water quality, biodiversity, endangered species, Indigenous cultural sites, water-based local industry and the health of local communities, demand urgent action,' coordinator Shae Fleming said. Fleming said flood zones and drinking water catchments should be 'clearly designated as no-go zones' for mining. A spokesperson for NSW Resources said the state has 'robust health and environmental regulations' to ensure community safety. The NSW natural resources minister, Courtney Houssos, declined to comment on the suitability of the Wild Cattle Creek project, but has previously expressed her vision for the state to become a 'leader in critical minerals exploration'. Douglas Connor is a journalist and editor on the NSW mid-north coast Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Garden privacy fence mistake could land you a £20,000 fine – check the latest rules
THINKING of putting up a new garden fence this summer? You might want to check the rules first or you could land yourself a hefty fine and even end up in court. 1 UK boundary rules mean your humble garden fence could turn into a legal nightmare if you get it wrong. Whether you're upgrading panels or building from scratch, the regulations are clear and local councils aren't afraid to crack down. New rules which came in last week under the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 outline what homeowners can build without needing full planning permission. Here's what the law has to say about fences. Back garden fence For a back garden fence, you're allowed a fence up to two metres high (that's about six foot six) without needing planning permission. Go any higher, even with a decorative trellis, and you'll need to get approval first. Skip this step and you could be forced to tear it down, or even worse – face enforcement action. Front fence At the front of your property, things get stricter. Fences can't go above one metre if you live next to a footpath, road or public space. That's just over three feet tall. It's designed to help visibility for drivers and pedestrians but plenty of homeowners are caught out. Privacy Fences vs Trees: Smart Solutions for Your Garden Breaching planning rules can lead to an enforcement notice and, in some cases, fines. If your fence causes a statutory nuisance, such as flooding or blocked drains, you could face penalties of up to £5,000 or £20,000 for a business under environmental regulations. Ignore it, and things can escalate to court. Neighbour disputes are the most common property complaint in the UK and they often boil down to where the boundary actually is. Before building, measure up carefully and chat things through with your neighbour. Snapping a few photos and getting a handshake agreement could save you a legal headache down the line. Replacing a fence When it comes to replacing a fence, there's a rough rule: the left-hand side of your garden (as seen from the street) is usually your responsibility. If the 'rough' side of the fence faces you, chances are it's yours to maintain. But the only way to be certain is by checking your title deeds. If there's a letter 'T' on the boundary line, it's down to you. An 'H' means it's a shared fence, so both parties are responsible. If things still aren't clear, you and your neighbour can draw up a boundary agreement to make it official. It should include your names, addresses, and a clear description of the agreed boundary. You can even sketch it on a map. To get it formally recorded, you'll need to apply to HM Land Registry and pay a £40 fee. And don't assume the new national rules overrule everything. If you live on an estate with open-plan front gardens or in a conservation area, your property might be subject to extra rules about fence types, colours, or height limits. So be sure to ask permission before going ahead with any fence plans. You can find more information on privacy fence boundaries on the webpage. Meanwhile, to avoid disputes when decorating your fence. Elsewhere, fence professionals have explained the rules you need to know to avoid falling into neighbourly disputes. What are your rights over a fence row? IT'S very important to know your rights if you are embroiled in a fence row with a neighbour. How do I know which side I own? A boundary feature can be a fence, wall, hedge, ditch, piece of wire, or sometimes even just the edge of a driveway. The only way to know for certain who owns what side and to avoid any neighbour disputes, is to refer to the title plan or Land Registry. In this, the T mark is used to indicate who the boundary belongs to and therefore who is responsible for its upkeep, say pros at Jacksons Fencing. Larger developments tend to have some indication provided by the builder, but there are no hard and fast rules People often think they are responsible for the left (or right) hand boundary wherever they live, but there isn't any legal basis for this. You can check with HM Land Registry to see which boundary feature you are responsible for. Often households can't get hold of the paperwork but experts say they shouldn't panic. Homeowners can guess who owns the fence by checking where the rails are. Pros say: "The fence is typically facing away from their property so that their neighbour gets the 'good' side. 'This is the most secure way of facing fencing so there are no rails for anyone to use to climb into your garden. 'This is then repeated with the neighbour on the other side to ensure that each home has both a 'good' and 'bad' fence side.' Walls and fences are often built on the land of the boundary's owner with the edge of the wall marking the limit. While professionals agree a glimpse at the fence can give you a hint, it's not foolproof - so you can't be certain. Fines and punishment It is recommended to always check legal documents before making changes to avoid hefty fines. There is no law that the neighbour has to get the good side of the fence, so it's completely up to whoever owns the fence. Fencing pros have suggested: 'It may be worth selecting a double-sided panel with no 'bad' side as both sides look the same and rails are concealed within the fence panel.' If one boundary backs onto a road or footpath you can install the panels with the rails on the inside But if it's installed on the outside, it can provide an 'easy ladder for burglars to enter your garden'. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Property Litigation Association have created a mediation service to help neighbours resolve disputes over their property boundaries without resorting to court action. RICS also provides a list of surveyors who could assist in boundary disputes. If a dispute continues, it is ultimately a court that makes decisions, but they do not like such disputes being put before them. Changing a boundary If you want to change an existing boundary, such as replacing an old fence with a new one, we always recommend discussing with your neighbour first and making sure it is all agreed. The registered titles can help you to reach an agreement, but only if this information has been added. In terms of decorations on a fence legal advisers recommended asking around over who actually first installed it. But they also urged caution before getting to work on amending the fence without getting more certainty yourself - since there is a danger of actually being prosecuted for criminal damage. How high can a garden fence be? The height of the fence is measured from your ground level, this can have an impact when, due to slopes in the ground, your garden may be at a higher level than your neighbours '. A garden fence can be as high as 100m but you need to get planning permission if it's over than 2m. However, there are some complications to this. If you are thinking about front garden fences, restrictions state that fences alongside a driveway can be a maximum of 1m or 3ft. You would need to get planning permission for putting a trellis on a fence of 2m. But, if any plant that you grow on that trellis exceeds 2m, you do not need to obtain a permit for the growing plant.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Warning to anyone with Blue Badge over ‘misunderstood rule' that could land you with £1,000 fine or see you lose permit
BLUE Badge holders have been issued a warning over a "misunderstood rule" that could leave drivers with a £1000 fine. The Blue Badge scheme was set up to help those with mobility issues by allowing them easier access to parking. 2 2 However, there is often confusion over when it can be used, with recent figures from the RAC revealing that theft and misuse of Blue Badges has risen by a over 1000% since 2016. Where Can Blue Badge Holders Park? It is often wrongly assumed that having a Blue Badge allows you to park anywhere. However, this is not the case. Blue Badge holders are not permitted to park anywhere where their vehicle could endanger others or obstruct access, such as near junctions, bus stops, or the entrance to hospitals. Where To Display a Blue Badge Blue Badge holders must always ensure to display their badge clearly on the dashboard, with the relevant details on show. Some people mistakenly think that its OK to borrow a Blue Badge from someone, or use it whilst the holder is not present, but this is not the case. People who use someone else's Blue Badge, when the badge holder is not in the car could be subject to a £1000 fine. Using a badge that has expired and failing to return a badge that is no longer needed can also lead to hefty fines. How To Get A Blue Badge In England, Wales and Scotland, you can apply for a Blue Badge on the website. Some people qualify for the badge automatically, whilst others are assessed on an individual basis. Local councils are in charge of assessing eligibility for badges, with applications taking up to 12 weeks. If the council decides you are not eligible for the badge, you can request them to reconsider your application. Badges in England cost £10, whilst in Scotland, they are priced at £20. Badges in Wales are free. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. Blue Badges in England and Wales typically last for three years, after which holders must reapply. However, some badges are valid until the end of certain benefits, such as Personal Independence Payments. Reminders of expiration are not sent out to badge holders, so you have to keep an eye on the date yourself, and apply for renewal 12 weeks in advance.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Full list of Universal Credit freebies and discounts you can claim in June worth up to £10,221
FAMILIES on Universal Credit can now cash in on a bumper haul of freebies and discounts worth up to £10,221 this June. From food vouchers to help with bills and even cheap days out, there's a treasure trove of support on offer. 1 Here's the full list of what you could be claiming this month. Household Support Fund – worth £500 The Household Support Fund has been extended until March 2026 – and it's dishing out direct payments of up to £500. Local councils like Birmingham are offering £200 payments, while others are handing out food or fuel vouchers. Each council sets its own rules, so check your local authority's website to see what's on offer and how to apply. Find your council via or visit for Birmingham-specific help. Where is the HSF available? Plymouth - up to £740 Plymouth City Council said eligible residents can receive a maximum of £740 in vouchers. This includes £240 in supermarket vouchers for either Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi, or Iceland, and £200 in energy vouchers. It also includes an essential item of household furniture or white goods or £300 of clothing vouchers. Blackpool - up to £300 Households with one or two people - including children - will see £200 paid directly to their energy provider. Those with three or more will get £300 paid towards their energy costs. Middlesbrough - up to £70 People in the area who claim benefits and do not have children can apply for a £50 voucher. Those living alone will get up to £37.50 and couples will get £50. If there are children in your household, you'll get a voucher for £70 per child. Leicestershire - up to £300 Households in Leicestershire can apply for £300 per household, which will be paid in the form of vouchers to support with gas, electricity and food. The payment can be delivered as a Post Office voucher, which can be redeemed for cash to help with gas, electricity or water, or an e-voucher to help with food costs that can be converted to a gift card for major supermarkets. Leeds - up to £100 Residents of Leeds who receive council tax support with dependent children can claim up to £100, while those without children could receive £25. Eligible households will have received letters featuring a barcode that can then be taken to the post office along with ID to claim the cash. Bracknell Forest - up to £315 Applicants could be eligible for a one-off £105 payment per child between now and September, if applicants meet the qualifying benefits. Cambridgeshire County - up to £220 Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household. Residents can apply twice for support between now and September 30, meaning each household could receive as much as £220. The funds can be paid in a lump sum of £110 or as vouchers. Falkirk - up to £470 The amount residents can get under the HSF depends on the number of people in their household. A single adult will receive £110, with an additional £90 payment made for every further resident. For example, a couple with no dependent children would receive £200. Stockport - up to £315 Stockport Council is giving out vouchers worth £105 to families struggling to pay for essentials. The fund is paid per child, so if you have three children you would be entitled to £315 worth of supermarket vouchers. Food Vouchers – worth £150 Camden Council is dishing out £150 food vouchers in June to families with kids on free school meals. No application is needed - around 5,200 children will be sent the vouchers automatically. Healthy Start food help – worth £442 a year New parents or expectant mums can get up to £442 annually for essentials like fruit, veg and baby formula. The Healthy Start scheme gives you a prepaid card loaded with funds every four weeks. Apply online if you're on benefits like Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit. Cheap days out – save £101 If you're on Universal Credit, you can unlock serious savings on days out across the UK: London Transport Museum: Entry for just £1 – usually £21 Yorkshire museums: Free entry, saving up to £17 per adult ZSL London Zoo: Entry for £3 – a £31.50 saving Tower of London & Hampton Court: £1 entry instead of £33.60 In total you could save up to £101 on these days out. Help to Save – get £1,200 bonus cash The government's Help to Save scheme gives you a 50% top-up when you put away cash. Save £50 a month and you could get up to £1,200 over four years. Open to those on Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit – even small savers will see rewards. Water bill help – worth £400 You could slash your water bill by hundreds through social tariffs or the WaterSure scheme. The support is aimed at low-income families or those who use lots of water due to disability or large households. Contact your supplier directly and ask what help is available. Some firms even offer free water-saving devices like shower timers and cistern bags to bring your usage down. Free prescriptions and healthcare – up to £119 If you're on Universal Credit, you might be eligible for free NHS prescriptions, saving you £9.90 a pop – that's nearly £120 a year. You could also get: Free dental checks Free eye tests Travel reimbursement for medical appointments Free wigs or glasses Use the NHS online checker to see what you can get. Discounted broadband and mobile contracts – worth £370 If you're on Universal Credit, social tariffs could save you a fortune. Some providers offer deals as low as £12.50 a month, slashing the average annual cost by £170. Mobile contracts are also covered – total savings could hit £370 across both. Check Ofcom's full list of providers, or use The Sun's free broadband checker. Council tax support – up to £2,280 Those struggling with council tax could get a major discount – or even have the bill wiped completely. Council Tax Support varies by area, but if you're on a low income or receiving Universal Credit, you could save up to £2,280 a year. Head to to check your eligibility. Energy bill help – up to £2,000 Energy firms like British Gas are offering hardship grants worth up to £2,000. Other suppliers are dishing out energy-saving gadgets and fuel vouchers. If you don't qualify through your supplier, charities like Turn2Us have searchable databases to help you find other grants. The Household Support Fund also covers energy costs – reach out to your council now. Pregnancy grant – worth £500 Mums expecting their first child could claim a one-off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant. It's available to those on Universal Credit or other qualifying benefits. You must apply within 11 weeks of the due date or six months after the baby is born. Print off the SF100 form online and get it signed by a midwife before posting. Support with travel and job applications – worth £150 Claimants can get a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card, cutting public transport costs by 50% across the UK. The card lasts for three months and is fre, you just need to be actively job hunting. There's also the Flexible Support Fund, which can cover costs like: Travel to interviews Job training (up to £150) Uniforms, work tools, and childcare Apply at your local JobCentre. Cheap gym memberships – worth £240 Some leisure centres offer Universal Credit claimants gym memberships from as little as £5 a month. That's a £20 saving every month or £240 a year. Everyone Active and Better Leisure both offer discounted rates. Access is often off-peak and varies by location, so check with your nearest centre. Free childcare – worth up to £1,769 a year Working parents on Universal Credit can now get up to 85% of childcare costs covered. The max payout is £1,031.88 a month for one child, or £1,768.94 for two or more – that's over £21,000 a year if claimed in full. You used to have to pay upfront, but now some parents get help before the bills are due. If you're unsure whether you qualify for any of these perks, it's worth checking or speaking to your local council. Don't miss out – the savings could seriously stack up.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The area of the UK where you're likely to be living with 'silent killer' that slowly destroys the lungs
An alarming new study has revealed the parts of the UK with the highest numbers of residents affected by deadly house mould. Topping the list were homes in the North West, with nearly four times the incidences of severe mould and damp, compared to the least affected area—the East Midlands. London was a close second, with more than 6,000 complaints of severe mould and damp made by both private and social housing residents in 2024. The research, which analysed freedom of information requests made to local councils, also revealed a staggering rise in recurring mould and damp over the last year across the UK. Between 2023 and 2024, reported cases of unresolved problems more than doubled to 13,781. In total, local councils in Britain received 25,134 complaints about mould and damp in 2024, marking a 35.06 per cent increase from the previous year. In response to the lack of progress in tackling Britain's 'mould epidemic', experts have called for the health impacts to be taken more seriously. Inhaling mould spores can trigger allergies, asthma attacks, respiratory infections that cause lung disease and, in severe cases, death. Those most at risk of the health impacts of mould are those most at risk in society: babies, children, and older people. In December 2020, two year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home. He lived in a one-bedroom flat with his father and stepmother. The family reported the mould problem to the housing association that provided the flat—Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH)—three years before the little boy's death, but was advised to 'paint over it'. In June 2020, Awaab's father hit the landlords with a legal claim over the recurring mould, but repairs had to wait until the case was settled. Awaab was taken to Rochdale Urgent Care Centre on 19 December that year with shortness of breath, and died a few days later. Speaking of the new findings, Dr Alexis Missick, a GP working with online prescription service UK Meds, which collected the data, said: 'Mould is more than just an eyesore, it can be extremely harmful, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions like asthma. 'Prolonged exposure to damp and mould can lead to persistent coughing, wheezing, and skin irritation. In more severe cases, it can cause long-term damage to lung health. 'With complaints rising so sharply, it's clear that action is needed at both local and national levels. 'We urge councils, landlords, and tenants to prioritise early prevention, proper ventilation, and swift intervention where mould is discovered.' The study analysed data from freedom of information requests to councils about mould and damp complaints in both private and social housing. The researchers found a stark difference between regions regarding the number of complaints, as well as the number of unresolved cases. The culprit behind mould is too much moisture and in buildings this can be caused by several factors. This includes leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames, and condensation. Mould and damp are commonly found in old buildings, but a newly built home may be damp if the water used in the plaster on the walls is still drying out. This latest study follows several high profile cases in which mould resulted in life-threatening complications. Matthew Langsworth, 32, has developed a potentially deadly infection after inhaling mould spores that were 'hidden' in his home In January this year, reports surfaced of a 32 year-old man who developed a life-threatening blood infection caused by mould, after living in a fungus-infected property where spores were 'covered up' with paint. Matthew Langsworth, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire became so breathless 'he could barely walk'. The condition called invasive aspergillosis can be caused by inhaling fungal spores which consequently spread from the lungs to the blood and other areas of the body. Last year, it triggered a collapsed lung which resulted in potentially-deadly sepsis. He said he spent a decade flagging black mould in the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom to his landlord, which he claims was 'redecorated over'. Mr Langsworth claimed that doctors suspect mould exposure is behind his health issues. He said he's faced with the choice of 'dying or being homeless'—as the flat, which is subsidised by the local council, is deemed 'fit for living' by officials. The social housing provider in his case, Stonewater, claimed they replaced the 'entirety of his bathroom and kitchen' following a leak in 2023 and more recently installed new flooring. They said a survey done in January this year, found mould on the shower curtain, the bathroom sink waste overflow and in the washing machine powder drawer They also discovered that the extractor fan in the bathroom wasn't working, but claim that had not been reported to them previously.
